Feedback on HALS Ms NOORDAM, 1st timer would like advice

[chloes nana]

this will be myself and my husbands first cruise. We are sailing on 8/27/09 on HAL's noordam for a 20 day Mediterranean adventure! I would love adivce as far as temperatures and what necessities to pack. And your overall opinoin of the ship and the HAL crew. thanks!:o

[RuthC]

First, welcome to Cruise Critic, and the HAL forum. :) Pull up a keyboard and join right in.

Second, the temperature in the Med in August? Still hot, I would say. I remember being in Rome in November and walking around in a cotton muumuu.

Third, the Noordam. She's a beautiful ship, IMO. I've been on her twice, for 10- and 11-day cruises, and will be back on her in January. She's a little big for my taste, but I sail her anyway! She's that lovely.

The HAL crew is consistently good on all the HAL ships. Service, and the staff aboard, is what brings many of us back time and time again.

I hope you enjoy your cruise on the Noordam as much as I've enjoyed mine.

[knitter]

We sailed in the eastern med last spring. She is lovely, service grand. Enjoy! You can do bags of laundry for $15 (bag looks small but holds a surprising amount) so don't overpack. Men had more suits than tuxes as far as I could see on formal nights, and women wore a lot of dressy pants suits, long skirts rather than gowns. If you chose tux and gown though, you won't be the only one!

[English_in_Spain]

this will be myself and my husbands first cruise. We are sailing on 8/27/09 on HAL's noordam for a 20 day Mediterranean adventure! I would love adivce as far as temperatures and what necessities to pack. And your overall opinoin of the ship and the HAL crew. thanks!:o

 

I don't know the itinerary of this cruise and what part of the Med you will be in (it is a big area). The weather everywhere is hot but the Southern Med (where we are) is VERY HOT!!!. Last August we had temperatures of 40+ (Celsius). That is 100-110 F.

 

A lot of people in Europe take their vacations in August. There will probably be a lot of Europeans on the ship and a lot of children too.

 

Not a month I would have chosen unless you are a family with children and like the heat.

[chloes nana]

thanks for all the wonderful advice!

[chloes nana]

First, welcome to Cruise Critic, and the HAL forum. :) Pull up a keyboard and join right in.

Second, the temperature in the Med in August? Still hot, I would say. I remember being in Rome in November and walking around in a cotton muumuu.

Third, the Noordam. She's a beautiful ship, IMO. I've been on her twice, for 10- and 11-day cruises, and will be back on her in January. She's a little big for my taste, but I sail her anyway! She's that lovely.

The HAL crew is consistently good on all the HAL ships. Service, and the staff aboard, is what brings many of us back time and time again.

 

I hope you enjoy your cruise on the Noordam as much as I've enjoyed mine.

thanks for the advice. We can hardly wait and yet we still have 8 months to wait

[m steve]

food in dining room and on Lido very good. Pinnacle was more hit and miss. Went to very few shows but loved the Ocean Bar with Cesar and Dindo. They made hand made gifts for the regulars. Stayed out of the casino this cruise as they didn't have the type of slots that I like so I saved some money there but shopped a bit on board. We had an aft cabin with great balcony space and 2 wonderful stewards. The dining room staff was exceptional.

[chloes nana]

food in dining room and on Lido very good. Pinnacle was more hit and miss. Went to very few shows but loved the Ocean Bar with Cesar and Dindo. They made hand made gifts for the regulars. Stayed out of the casino this cruise as they didn't have the type of slots that I like so I saved some money there but shopped a bit on board. We had an aft cabin with great balcony space and 2 wonderful stewards. The dining room staff was exceptional.

 

 

thanks!! I can hardly wait, the casino is no big deal, would rather shop than gamble!

[mamaofami]

I love the Noordam. She's my favorite ship and I'll be sailling her for the third time this January. Can't wait.:D I think you'll love her too.

[Old Salty Dog]

We have been on the Noordam twice - once on an 11 day Caribbean out of New York, and on the 20 day Eastern & Western Med. that was similar to the one you will be going on. We left August 28 and returned mid-Sept. The weather was just pleasantly hot and almost rain free. We like the ship layout, everything was ship-shape, and the staff was great. We had assigned early dining and it worked out fine for getting to the entertainment - it was nice to have the same staff for the whole cruise.

 

We only took a few shore excursions to the few places we had never visited previously, but mostly did our own thing. We have also been on the Westerdam, which is almost exactly the same ship, but our favorite (so far) is the Rotterdam which is a somewhat smaller ship. I think you will really enjoy this cruise.

Ed

[catl331]

Just off the Noordam and she is in great shape with a wonderful crew. The only thing that hit my eyes were scrapes and bruises on the lounge chairs on the upper decks. A few nights later we had gale force winds with rough seas. When I went up to the upper decks to watch the sunrise, I realized that the chairs had been doing a dance up there all night long and were intertwined and in one mass of chairs. AHA! We did a Med. cruise a few yrs ago on this ship in June. The northern ports: Barcelona, Florence etc. were still springlike but Tunis and Malta were warmed up. It was cool on the balcony at sea in Northern Med.

[kalliekae]

We love the Noordam! Beautiful ship and fantastic crew. We were on the Med. sailing last May so our weather was perfect. Tunis was the only real hot spot...low 90's. However, I would expect your weather to be very hot in August. On our cruise, almost all dressed formally on the first formal night. By the third formal night, there were far fewer tuxes and long gowns. This was a port intensive trip so I think most were very tired and just didn't care to deal with a third formal night. JMO

[rebeljohn]

We were extremely pleased with the Noordam. Great Food, and great service from everyone. We would go back on her in a minute........

[chloes nana]

We have been on the Noordam twice - once on an 11 day Caribbean out of New York, and on the 20 day Eastern & Western Med. that was similar to the one you will be going on. We left August 28 and returned mid-Sept. The weather was just pleasantly hot and almost rain free. We like the ship layout, everything was ship-shape, and the staff was great. We had assigned early dining and it worked out fine for getting to the entertainment - it was nice to have the same staff for the whole cruise.

 

We only took a few shore excursions to the few places we had never visited previously, but mostly did our own thing. We have also been on the Westerdam, which is almost exactly the same ship, but our favorite (so far) is the Rotterdam which is a somewhat smaller ship. I think you will really enjoy this cruise.

Ed

 

thanks Ed, I was a little concerned about the weather. However it is usually in the high 90's anymore in Denver, so I hoped it would be nice. This our very first ever cruise and the excursions are alot of the places my husband has always dreamed of. one other question: where do we clear customs since we are flying out of Denver to Heathrow then connecting on to Rome?? and Literally return flight is the exact opposite. Our departure flight from Rome is at 11:55 and we port at 8, is that enough time???:confused:

[chloes nana]

We love the Noordam! Beautiful ship and fantastic crew. We were on the Med. sailing last May so our weather was perfect. Tunis was the only real hot spot...low 90's. However, I would expect your weather to be very hot in August. On our cruise, almost all dressed formally on the first formal night. By the third formal night, there were far fewer tuxes and long gowns. This was a port intensive trip so I think most were very tired and just didn't care to deal with a third formal night. JMO

Great@@ I can harldy wait. You are right the weather here is pretty intense in August and September. 80's to 90's are okay by us! where do you clear customs on this cruise?? Leaving Denver to Heathrow the connecting flight into Rome. and the exact reverse on the return flight?? I have never cruised or even been out of our grand USA except for Mexico. Please forgive my lack of knowledge. thanks Phyllis:o